Thales UK sends first Collins-class replacement bow to Australia

Thales UK announced it has recently completed the first of six new replacement bow sonar arrays for the upgrade of the Royal Australian Navy’s Collins-class submarines.

The company says that the bow sonar array was delivered in time to meet the Royal Australian Navy’s accelerated upgrade of HMAS Waller currently taking place at ASC in Osborne.

The Collins Sonar Capability Assurance Programme (CSCAP) is part of the wider SEA1439 refit program to upgrade the capabilities of the RAN’s six Collins-class submarines, extending their working life until a new generation of submarine is online in the 2030s.

The boats’ current sonar has been in service in the since the 1980s.

Thales noted that CSCAP represents the first time that the UK has exported submarine technology of this level of sophistication outside the UK.

Collins-class submarines will also receive new flank arrays from Thales France. All the upgrades will be incorporated by Raytheon Australia and Thales Australia.